David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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99. To ask the Minister for Finance if he has read the Committee of Public Accounts report into Project Eagle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15505/17]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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138. To ask the Minister for Finance if he has read the Committee of Public Accounts report into the sale of Project Eagle; his views on whether it was procedurally inappropriate for him to have met a company (details supplied) 24 hours before the loan sale deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15504/17]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 138 together.

The Deputy will be aware that I and my Department refute absolutely any claims that I and my officials acted inappropriately, procedurally or otherwise, in meeting with Cerberus in March 2014.

I would refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Question 115 of 16 February 2016 where I outlined my views on the appropriateness of these meetings.  This response is available on the Oireachtas website and my position is unchanged following the publication of the PAC report on the sale of Project Eagle.

Having read the report, I note that a letter I sent to the PAC Chairman on 15 February 2017 is included as appendix 7. The Deputy, as a member of the PAC, will be aware that this letter was written regarding draft conclusions contained in a Committee Working Paper which had been leaked to the media.

It is disappointing that those unjustified and unfounded views about me and my officials contained in the PAC's draft working paper have made their way into the Committee's final report. I note that this conclusion was included despite the clear disagreement of some of the PAC members as highlighted in Appendix 6 of the report.

I also note that the Dáil will debate the PAC report on 29th March, where I look forward to expressing my views further.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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100. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will proceed with establishing a commission of investigation into the sale of Project Eagle by NAMA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15506/17]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that Statements on the Establishment of Commission of Investigation into NAMA were taken in this House on Wednesday, 1 February 2017. As indicated on that occasion, the sensible course of action was to wait for the publication and consideration of the Public Accounts Committee's ("PAC") report before deciding on next steps. 

The Deputy will be also aware that, on 15 September 2016, the Taoiseach met party leaders to hear their views on the potential establishment and possible terms of reference of a Commission of Investigation.  The Taoiseach subsequently received a number of submissions on the matter.  The Taoiseach met party leaders again on 4 October 2016 and agreed in principle that the Government would establish a Commission of Investigation under the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004.

I am advised that the party leaders acknowledged that there would be limitations on any Commission's work given the location of potential witnesses and documentation outside the jurisdiction and in light of ongoing criminal investigations and that any potential terms of reference would need to recognise this fact.

The PAC Report is scheduled to be discussed in the Dáil on 29th March.  Following that discussion, we will have an opportunity to evaluate potential next steps.